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MOONACHIE, NJ | LPS Industries, an ISO-certified flexible packaging manufacturer, will announce a significant expansion of its production capabilities at PACK EXPO 2017, September 25–27, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company is in the process of installing three new pouch machines that convert supported laminates and poly materials, a new flexo printing press, and two new combo poly bag/poly mailer lines. All of the new functionality is projected to be commercially operational during Q4 of 2017.

Two new production lines of combo poly bag equipment will accommodate a wider range of poly gauges to 8 mils. Bags can be produced with a press-to-seal zipper or tape closure, and up to eight-color process printing is available. Set up to work with both hot knife and flat bar seals, the new equipment will also have high-speed wicketing capability. Robinson adds, “Wicketed bags are well regarded for the efficiencies they create, whether a part of a high-speed, semi-automatic, or even manual packing process. This new equipment greatly expands the range of product applications we can support for market sectors in which we are already very familiar.” It readily accommodates everyday supermarket products such as breads, baked goods, meats, and produce. Robinson also anticipates interest in other diverse market sectors such as garments, textiles, and even mechanical components.

In addition to converting the traditional film/foil/paper laminates, the new pouchmaking system will make pouches from unsupported coex films. The company also is expanding its ability to process several varieties of three side seal pouches, press to close zipper pouches, stand-up pouches, and side gusseted pouches from single or multiple webs. Additional enhancements include the ability to insert separate bottom or side gusset films, register print on both sides of a pouch and on the bottom gussets or side gussets, and create rounded corner pouches.

Robinson says the company has expertise in flexible packaging for healthcare, adding, “Pouches constructed with a clear film front and a foil or metallized film backing, for instance, are becoming more popular among medical product brand owners who choose to use a humidity indicator insert, allowing a quick visual inspection by the medical professional to verify a key package performance indicator.”

The new flexo printing press will increase overall efficiency and add more print capacity, as well as ensuring continuity of operations at LPS. It will accommodate a full range of printable substrates and print up to eight process colors, including specialized inks and varnish designs.